[video]

[onetrackminds]

[Anders is sitting in a small clearing in the forest right outside Union, his back up against a tree. He's fairly relaxed, and noticeably so for those who know him from working at the Medical Center, as that's more than rare for him. He's even smiling a little.

Wow.]

I've left my job at the Medical Center, and I'll be working as a Field Medic from now on instead. I'm going to spend at least this week training, but if anyone is planning an exploration soon and would like a Medic along, let me know.

Queen Cleo would like to help out as well. Wouldn't you?

[He turns the warp band to show a tiny Espurr, who appears much too busy licking berry juice off her paws to pay much attention. She glances up, though, briefly, making a small annoyed noise as if to say, did he have to do this in the middle of lunch?

Anders turns the warp band back on himself.]

She means she'd be happy to help. Just let us know.

[[ooc: open to action to anyone in of Verdant Forest North.]]

Comments

[onetrackminds]

Were you going somewhere?

[Sergeant can have some headpats, too, actually.]

[hawkethat]

[Sergeant has recently discovered how much he likes headpats! He'll hold really still to receive them from Anders!]

Nowhere in particular, but I don't want to interrupt.

[onetrackminds]

Do I look all that busy?

[Look at him, sitting there on the ground, patting a puppy.]

[hawkethat]

...No, not really.

[Is...is that an invitation, then?]

[onetrackminds]

If I'm being honest, it's also been a bit overwhelming out here. [shrug.] I'd like some company for a bit.

[that's an invitation.]

[hawkethat]

Well...alright, then.

[Pff, like he's really going to argue. He may be living the wild pokemon life but he is human, and he likes the company of other humans. So he approaches closer and settles down on the ground next to Anders.]

[onetrackminds]

[And Anders reaches over to snatch a leaf out of Garrett's beard.]

You seem a lot more used to this than I am.

[hawkethat]

[What is Anders -- oh.]

Thanks.

[Uh.]

My family has a farm. Once I was old enough, I was put in charge of keeping track of the Mareep flock, so I spent more time outdoors than in.

[onetrackminds]

[And it's at this point that Cleo makes her way over, staring at Hawke. He's been bathing, though.

What? She had to check.]

Well, that ruins that theory.

[hawkethat]

[Wow, Cleo, rude. :<

He's very clean! Sergeant steps up to defend Hawke's honor. We were just having a rough time right before we got to the city. He didn't have time.

...Sergeant is the best puppy.]

What theory is that?

[Though he's going to ignore the Pokemon for the moment in favor of finding out why Anders is smiling like that.]

[onetrackminds]

That if anyone lives outside Union, they're unwashed savages at best.

[he might be teasing.]

[hawkethat]

[Ooooh noooooo]

...Please don't let your first impression of me give you the wrong idea about...well...everyone else.

[He's looking a little embarrassed over here, ugh...]

[onetrackminds]

[Oh, no. Is it mean to laugh?]

I wasn't holding it against you.

[hawkethat]

[Noooo, don't laugh, he's really sensitive about it ;u;]

I appreciate it.

[onetrackminds]

You'd spent a month in the wilderness. I doubt I would even have survived.

[hawkethat]

I had some help.

[Being able to turn into a fire puppy definitely helped. But so did Sergeant! Who gets headpats, now that he's wandered over to sit down by Hawke.]

[onetrackminds]

Although next time you might want to bring some soap.

[...back to teasing whoops.]

[hawkethat]

[Sh-shit!]

Hopefully there won't be a next time, but I'll definitely keep that in mind.

[onetrackminds]

[pause.]

Did you learn anything useful from the rangers?

[hawkethat]

[Sigh]

Unfortunately not.

I've been thinking about joining them. They have access to resources I wouldn't on my own.

[onetrackminds]

That might be a good plan. If you're going to travel that far, you'd need support as well.

[And money. You're going to need money.]

[hawkethat]

I'm not a hundred percent sold, but it does seem to be my best bet so far.

[onetrackminds]

What are you going to do in the meantime? [pause.] And where are you staying?

[hawkethat]

I've been running errands for some people in the city. And getting used to being in a city.

[It's not easy, that's for sure. Sergeant is acclimatizing better than Hawke is.]

We've just been camping out here.

[onetrackminds]

And you haven't been getting lost?

[Hawke definitely seems like he's pretty resourceful, though.]

...You wouldn't prefer a bed?